Turku

Old castles and new cafes by the Aura River.

Finland's oldest city charms with medieval churches, lively markets, and cultural museums. Explore its compact center on foot, surrounded by rivers and forests.

4
out of 5

Turku, Finland's oldest city, sits at the mouth of the Aura River on the southwest coast. As a former capital, it played a key role in Finnish history and culture. The city is home to the 13th-century Turku Cathedral, the medieval Turku Castle, and the Old Great Square. Visitors can enjoy local cuisine at the historic Market Hall or take a ferry to explore the nearby archipelago with its thousands of islands.

Turku's Historic Core

The heart of Turku centers around the Aura River, which divides the city. On the east bank stands Turku Cathedral, consecrated in 1300 and still an active Lutheran church. Its brick exterior and spire are visible from many parts of the city. The interior contains ornate frescoes, medieval tombs, and a museum detailing the cathedral's history. A short walk away, the Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori) was once the main medieval marketplace. It now hosts festivals and events throughout the year, including a Christmas market in December.

Turku Castle

At the mouth of the Aura River stands Turku Castle, one of Finland's most important historical sites. Construction began in the 1280s, and for centuries it served as a defensive fortress, royal palace, and administrative center. Now a museum, visitors can explore its stone halls, climb staircases, and view exhibits on medieval life. The castle's rooms contain suits of armor, porcelain collections, and archaeological finds. A visit typically takes several hours to see the main exhibits.

Turku's Food Scene

Turku has several notable dining options. The Market Hall, dating to 1896, houses food stalls and small restaurants where visitors can sample local flavors. Traditional dishes include lohikeitto (creamy salmon soup) and korvapuusti (cinnamon rolls). For fine dining, Kaskis is the first restaurant outside Helsinki to earn a Michelin star. They serve Nordic tasting menus highlighting seasonal, local ingredients. Along the Aura River, there's a variety of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating available in summer.

The Turku Archipelago

Just offshore from Turku lies an archipelago with over 20,000 islands stretching towards Sweden. In summer, ferries and guided boat tours operate to some of the larger inhabited islands. Ruissalo, the closest to the city, has hiking trails through oak forests and beaches for swimming. Further out, the town of Nagu (Nauvo in Finnish) has wooden houses, a small harbor, and seafood restaurants. Cyclists can ride between islands connected by bridges and ferries.

Transportation in Turku

Turku's center is walkable, and the city also has a bus network called Föli. Tickets are available through their mobile app or at kiosks around town. In summer, bike rentals are available for cycling along the riverside paths or out to nearby islands. The small orange Föri ferry has crossed the Aura River since 1904 - it's free to ride and provides views of the city. For longer trips, trains connect Turku to Helsinki in about 2 hours.

Average temperatures during the day in Turku.
October
12°
Nov
6°
Dec
2°
Jan
1°
Feb
2°
Mar
5°
Apr
12°
May
19°
Jun
23°
Jul
24°
Aug
23°
Sep
19°

What people say about Turku

4
People
4
Food
4
Spaces
4
Value
4
Safety
5

Places nearby Turku

Best places to visit in🇫🇮Finland

Articles about Finland

Image of The best disc golf destinations in the world
Image of The best disc golf destinations in the world

The best disc golf destinations in the world

April 2023,
We wanted to know where to go for the perfect disc golf trip. So we combined UDisc's ratings of more than 14,000 disc golf courses with Humbo's ratings of more than 300,000 destinations. Every single
Image of Bucket list-worthy places in the Nordics
Image of Bucket list-worthy places in the Nordics

Bucket list-worthy places in the Nordics

December 2023,
The Nordics is a beautiful region in Northern Europe consisting of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland. These five countries are some of the world's safest, most peaceful, and most prosperou
Image of The 20 happiest cities in the world
Image of The 20 happiest cities in the world

The 20 happiest cities in the world

September 2024,
This is a list of the top 20 happiest cities in the world according the World Happiness Report which is based on data from 160+ countries. The Nordics and Oceania are heavily over-represented, but the
Image of Where to see the Northern Lights: The ultimate guide
Image of Where to see the Northern Lights: The ultimate guide

Where to see the Northern Lights: The ultimate guide

October 2023,
Humbling experience Traveling to see the Northern Lights is worth every mile, every hour on the road or in the air. Imagine standing under the dark sky, surrounded by silence, when suddenly the black
Image of The 20 most bike-friendly cities in the world
Image of The 20 most bike-friendly cities in the world

The 20 most bike-friendly cities in the world

January 2023,
To find the best cities for cycling, we looked at the Copenhagenize Index, a comprehensive ranking of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities based on ambition, culture, and city design. Below you wi
Image of The most beautiful national parks in the world
Image of The most beautiful national parks in the world

The most beautiful national parks in the world

January 2024,
National parks are unique in several ways, about 15% of all land and 8% of all water in the world is protected. National parks are protected pockets of nature that offers a unique opportunity for bot
Popular on Humbo right now
Humboâ„¢AboutVisitedBucket listSustainable travelPrivacyTerms